Car-coupling.



J. L. FRA-ZIEK.

GAR CDUPLING. APPLIuATIoH FILED :um: e.' nos. -RLNBWBD PATENTED APR. 16, 1907..

AUG. is. 190s.

an end view of UNITED siArnsPArnN'r oirrion.

JAMES L. FRAZIER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO GRAVITY OOUPLER OOMPAN Y, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

Speciiication of Letters Patent. Application tiled June 5, 1905. Renewed August 13, 1906. Serial No.

No. 850,219. Patented April 16, 1907.

To mit wle/om t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES L. Fnrizinn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinoie, have invented certain new and useful inprovements in Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

l each side of the neck E.

neck and body clear, and exact description ofthe invention, the upper surlace o the neck, but does not which will enable others skilled in the art to arise as high as said body and leaves an offset, wh ie and use the same. as indicated It will be noted, further, that rounded off, and 5, though this is by preference and is not necessary for the proper working of the device. The member B referred to is also provided with an eye C corresponding to O in the art A and has a cylindrical body F of smaller diameter than the part B, there being a shoulder at G. At the extremity of the said cylindrical body is also an annular projection H, forming a shoulder similar to G. The interior of the body F is recessed at J to receive the head D of the member A, the rewhere a quick and safe coupling is needed.

provide a coupling of t ie simplest and` fewest number of parts.

urther object is to provide acoupliiig a locking member th at will release itself from its com anion member by its own weight when esired.

can enter it from becess being of the form shovm in Figs. 3 and 4.,

ta le member for holding the said first two low andit up into it, asin Fig. 2. Of necesmembers in locked relation and likewise for sity the recess opens through to the end of the body F by the vertical slot t whereby the neck E of the member A may also be entered to form the com lete coupling, Fig. 2. In Fig. 4 the letter prevent the parting of the interlocking members of a coupling by device. indicates the recess as it is formed to admit the head D, also shown in dotted lines, the latter being of oval form while the recess must of course have straight sides, as vviewed in that ligure.

hen entered as described, some means .must be provided for holding the parts together, and I accomplish this in the use of a sleeve L, which the cylindrical device broken away. Fig. 2 is a side view ofPy the device, showing the locking device in section. Fig. 3 is a part sectional side view of one of the interlocking members, showing its inner form. Fig. the member shown in Fig. 3. of another interlocking engage With the memig. 5 is a side view member designed to ber shown in Fig. 3. ig. 6 is a y erspective venting end movement of the sleeve though view of a gravity locking device or use with the atter is perfectly free to turn upon the the coupling shown in Figs. l and 2. said portion F. Said sleeve is preferably e coupling consists of two portions A formed of one piece of metal bent into the desired form, with its ends brought together, as in Fig. 6, and secured as by riveting or other good means. The ends are made very thick, so as to be heavier at that part of the sleeve, and opposite. these the sleeve is prohich, as shown in normally expose I that portion of the cylinder F lying immediately above the recess J, this being likewise neck E is but substan- IOO shown in Fig. 2. the weight feature, the sleeve can be shifted by hand to expose or close the recess J. The weight of the ends of the sleeve normally holds said sleeve in the position shown in the figures last named, and when. lying thus the .head l) and neck E will in coiisequel'ice rest upon the sleeve where its ends are connected, thus being also indicated. in Fig. 2, thereby holding these members in place within the body F.

When it is desired to separate the members A and B, the sleeve is graspedby its connected ends and turned upon the portion .F onehalf of a revolution, thereby bringing the notch M beneath the recess J. The support for the part A, being removed, allows that member to drop out of the part B and the device is uncoupled. When making a coupling, the same movement is imparted to the sleeve to open the recess J, before, the head D is inserted, and the sleeve liberated, which at once falls by its own weight to the position shown in Fig. 2. By having the red cess J open atjthebottom of the cylinder F the part A can uncouple by its own Weight when released in the .manner described. However, it is to be understood that the entire coupling could be turned over with the recess J openingifout at the top, so that the part A could then be lifted out, the position of the notch M being changed so as to close the recess as before. I merely state this in order to show that changes may be made in the coupling without sacrificing the spirit of the invention.

The notch M of the sleeve is of course made sufficiently large to readily permit the head D to pass out of its recess immediately the sleeve isvturned, as will be understood.

The purpose of my invention, as may be gained from 'the foregoing, is to provide a coupling of the character described., using a latch or locking device for preventing separationof the two iparts, said latch being operated to lock theflparts together by the force of gravity, althoughlthe said locking device, if desired7 can be merely a sleeve without the weight, but with suiiicient friction on the member B to remain wherever placed by the operator, and in this way the same end can be accomplished. In this way a fewer number offlelements are employed, with the additional advantage that no springs are necessary and, further, that no machine-work whatever is needed in making or assembling the coupling complete. The parts are either cast or drop-forged, a rivet being all that is required to complete the sleeve after that member has been placed. in position.

I claim 1. A coupling of the character described comprising three members, two of them adapted to interlock transversely, the third member being carried by one of the two first If it is desired to eliminate l l l said means and operated by gravity to lock the said two members together or preventing voluntary separation thereof.

2. ln a device of the class described, two coupling members adapted to interlock in a transverse direction, and means permanently carried by one of the members and fitting entirely around the same and adapted to support the other member, there being a transverse opening through the means, for eX- posing the last-named member while maintaining a relatively fixed position with respect to longitudinal movement on the member carrying it to permit said last-named member to pass out of and leave its companion.

A coupling of the character described comprising two interlocking members adapted. for separation in a transverse direction and a third member carried on one of the members for inclosing yboth said third 'member acting by gravity to inclose said members and adapted when given a halfrevolution to permit of uncoupling the members, the movement of such revoluble member taking place in a fixed position relative to the length of the member carrying it.

4. In a coupling, two interlocked members separable in a transverse direction and a gravity-operated member carried by one of the members and inclosing both when both are connected, the said third member adapted when operated by the force of gravity to hold the first two members in connected relation or permit separation when moved against the force of gravity.

5. In a coupling, two interlocked members separable in a transverse direction, a third member carried wholly by one of the said interlocking ones and serving when in one position to lock both members from becoming separated and to permit separation of the members when altered in position, said third. member revoluble on the member carrying it without changing its position relatively to the length of the last-named member.

6. A coupling comprising two members arranged and adapted to interlock with one another there being a socket in one and a tongue on the other, a sleeve carried on the socket member and adapted for revoluble movement thereon, there being an opening in the sleeve to permit passage of the tongue of the other member therethrough into the socket member when the said opening is in register with the socket of the member, the sleeve being normally in position to close the socket-opening.

7. A coupling comprising a grooved member, a member having a tongue adapted to enter and engage the grooved member and adapted for separation only in a transverse direction, and a revoluble sleeve rotatably Vmounted on one ofthe members, there being a notch in said sleeve adapted to register with the IOO groove oi the said grooved member, said sleeve being weighted to norn'urlly keep thc notch out oi' register with said groove to prevent separation ol' the coupled members.

8. ln a coupling ol'` thecharactcr described, two members adapted to ii'iterlock and separable in a transverse direction, a sleeve carried by one of' said members and. adapted to turn upon. the same and surrounding the interlocking portions, the opposite member resting thereon, the sleeve being weigl'ited to retain a nornlal position, there being a notch in thc sleeve opposite the weighted portion thereof for perniitting separation of both members Wl'ien the notch is brought into register with the member resting upon said sleeve, as set forth.

9. A coupling of the character described comprising two interlocking members adapted for separati-on in a transverse direction, there being a transverse recess extending part way through one of said men bers, said recess opening through the bottom of said member substantially as described, the opposite member adapted to enter said recess from below, and a sleeve carried on the recessed. ineriber and adapted to close the recess to prevent the opposite member from falling out, there being a weight on said sleeve to retain it in a position to prevent separation, there also being a notch in the sleeve for permitting the opposite member leaving the recess when said notch is brought into register with said recess, substantially as set forth. f

10. A coupling comprising two interlocking members adapted Vfor separation in a transverse direction and a gravity-operated. device inclosing the two members and normally preventingT separation in said transverse direction.

11. A coupling comprising two separate interlocking mefnbers and a third member carried by one ofthem and surrounding both when interlocked, there being a notch in said third member 'for the purposes described, said third member being weighted to normally hold the notch out of register with the place of separation of the members.

12. In a coupling, a member for connection with a car, a gravity-operated member carried thereon and surrounding it and shiftable on said member, and a third member for connection with a car and adapted to engage the first member, the shiftable member adapted to inclose both the first and third .Members for keeping there. interlocked but adapted also to permit the release of the said engaged members, one from the other, when the shiftable member is operated against the force of gravity.

13. In a coupling a .member for connection. with a car, la second member connected with another car and adapted for engagement with the first and having a tongue with an enlargement at its extren'iity there being a socket in the {ir'st ivrwnlicr to receivel it, a third meu-- bor surroimding the 'lirnt :rr aber, there l` ing a notch therein to registi r with the socket ol the said Iii-st iti-mitici" to ad; it ti tongue and to pero* it its r f ova-l, said third. iezfber being w ghted to normally hold said notch out o'l re ister witl'i the socket and tongue.

14. A coupling comprising a sie yaber having a substantially vr tical T-shaped socket therein, a second naci; .ber having a correspondingly-shapcd tongue to engage said socket, the socket and tongue extending trai'lsversrly of the respective members, a revoluble sleeve carried by and ii'iclosii'ig the socket .fi-.erobert there being a notch in said sleeve to correspond with the socket and tongue and register therewith to permit witl'idrawal of the tongue, and a weight on the sleeve to norlxially keep tte notch out of register with the socket and interlocking tongue.

15. In a coupling a n" silber having a substantially T-shaped transverse socket extending part way through the saine, a second member having a correspondingly-shaped tongue for engaging the socket, a sleeve surrounding thesocket member and normally closing said socket to retain the tongue therein and a weight for holding the sleeve in that position, there being a groove in which the sleeve seats and turns substantially as described.

16. In a coupling, a transversely-socketed member, a companion member having a tongue to transversely engage the saine and a revoluble sleeve surrounding both members when engaged the same operated by gravity eir engaging ends.

ro cover the members at tL 17. A coupling vcomprising two trans- ,versely-locking se arable members and a gravity-operated s eeve carried by and inclosing one of the members and normally adapted to close the opening into which the opposite member enters.

18. A coupling of the character described comprising a member having a socket extending up there-.into from below and coni- Inunicating with and forming part of a narrow socket opening through -e end of the member, a second member having a head at one end to enter the socket from below and having a narrow neck connecting the head with the main body, die neck entering the narrow opening in the end of Alie 'l'irst-d'escribed member, and a third member for closing tie opening of the socket to prevent separation of the said iirst and second members.

19. A coupling comprising two members adapted to interlock in a transverse direction as by a transverse opening in one member, and a tongue on the other member to enter such opening, and a sleeve surrounding one of the members and adapted for rotary movement thereon in one plane to close the opening against the removal of the tongue TOO Socket for normally holding' tlie two mem-- bers together.

22. A coupling comprising e member lieving a socket extending partially therethrough in a transverse direction ee described, e seeond member for enteringit, and a sleeve 'for closing the opening of tlie socket for normally holding the two members together.

23.' A Coupling comprising two men'lbers, one having e socketin its side7 tlie other liev- I' ing e heed to enter it, and e member for closing' the opening of the socket to prevent separation of the members, there being a noteli in the sleeve to register with the sooket'to 'permit tlie Seid seeond member to leave the AIirst es described.

24. ln :t couplingof the class described, the body F havinge socket J therein end the opening K therein connecting with socket J, the body A having the head l) to enter the said Socket J of the body ll7 neek E 'for entering the opening K substantially described, and the rotatable gravity-operated sleeve L having the notch M therein t register with the socket J and opening for tlie purposes set forth.

ln testin'lon)T whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES L. FRAZIER.

the head having the I 

